Senate

Chamber Action

S. 1847, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that the needs of children are considered in homeland security, trafficking, and disaster recovery planning, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 115–201) Page S580

Measures Passed:

Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act: Senate passed H.R. 4708, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue Department of Homeland Security-wide guidance and develop training programs as part of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign. Page S591

Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act: Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the amendment of the House to S. 534, to prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities. Pages S589–91

Message from the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States:

Transmitting the report on the State of the Union delivered to a Joint Session of Congress on January 30, 2018; which was ordered to lie on the table. (PM–25) Pages S576–80

Iancu Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that at 5 p.m., on Monday, February 5, 2018, Senate will begin consideration of the nomination of Andrei Iancu, of California, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office; that there be 30 minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form, and that following the use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination, with no intervening action or debate; and that no further motions be in order. Page S587

Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:

By 56 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. EX. 27), David Ryan Stras, of Minnesota, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit. Pages S558–67, S567–68

Matthew Bassett, of Tennessee, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 10:38 p.m., until 11 a.m. on Friday, February 2, 2018. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S591.)

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

INDO-PACIFIC REGION

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the situation on the Korean Peninsula and United States strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, after receiving testimony from Admiral Dennis C. Blair, USN (Ret.), Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Michael J. Green, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Kelly E. Magsamen, Center for American Progress.

FINANCIAL STABILITY OVERSIGHT COUNCIL

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Financial Stability Oversight Council Annual Report to Congress, including S. 2098, to modernize and strengthen the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to more effectively guard against the risk to the national security of the United States posed by certain types of foreign investment, S. 2155, to promote economic growth, provide tailored regulatory relief, and enhance consumer protections, S. 2147, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create a Pension Rehabilitation Trust Fund to establish a Pension Rehabilitation Administration within the Department of the Treasury to make loans to multiemployer defined benefit plans, and S. 1591, to impose sanctions with respect to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, after receiving testimony from Steven T. Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury.

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act one year later, after receiving testimony from France Cordova, Director, National Science Foundation; and Walter Copan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, and Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology.

NATURAL HAZARD EVENTS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the role of the Geological Survey and the Forest Service in preparing for and responding to natural hazard events, as well as the current status of mapping and monitoring systems, after receiving testimony from David Applegate, Associate Director for Natural Hazards, Geological Survey; Glenn Casamassa, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; David K. Norman, Washington Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey State Geologist, Olympia; Karen Berry, Colorado State Geologist and Colorado School of Mines Geological Survey Director, Golden, on behalf of the Association of American State Geologists; Michael West, Alaska Earthquake Center State Seismologist and University of Alaska Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks; and Mayor Pat Branson, Kodiak, Alaska.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Melissa F. Burnison, of Kentucky, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs), Susan Combs, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Douglas Nelson, of Idaho, to be Solicitor of the Department of the Interior, and Anne Marie White, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Environmental Management).

Senators Murkowski and Cantwell are ex officio members of each subcommittee.

EPA OVERSIGHT

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine testimony from the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Scott Pruitt, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.

ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S., CANADA, AND MEXICO

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the economic relationship between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, after receiving testimony from Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of Canada, Montreal, Quebec; Earl Anthony Wayne, Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, D.C.; and Jaime Serra, former Secretary of Commerce and Industry of Mexico, Mexico City.

HIGHER EDUCATION ACT

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, focusing on accountability and risk to taxpayers, after receiving testimony from Anthony P. Carnevale, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy Center on Education and Workforce, Ben Miller, Center for American Progress, Jason D. Delisle, American Enterprise Institute, and Mamie Voight, Institute for Higher Education Policy, all of Washington, D.C.; and Jose Luis Cruz, City University of New York Lehman College, New York, New York.

H.R. 3299, to amend the Revised Statutes, the Home Owners' Loan Act, the Federal Credit Union Act, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require the rate of interest on certain loans remain unchanged after transfer of the loan, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–538); and

H.R. 620, to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to promote compliance through education, to clarify the requirements for demand letters, to provide for a notice and cure period before the commencement of a private civil action, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–539).Page H731

Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Simpson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.Page H683

Recess: The House recessed at 10:40 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon.Page H687

Committee Election: The House agreed to H. Res. 719, electing a Member to a certain standing committee of the House of Representatives.Page H690

Child Protection Improvements Act: The House agreed to the motion to concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 695, to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a national criminal history background check system and criminal history review program for certain individuals who, related to their employment, have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, with an amendment consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115–56, by a yea-and-nay vote of 250 yeas to 166 nays, Roll No. 49.Pages H698–H725

Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a voluntary national criminal history background check system and criminal history review program for certain individuals who, related to their employment, have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.''.Page H725

H. Res. 714, the rule providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 695) was agreed to by a recorded vote of 236 ayes to 183 noes, Roll No. 48, after the previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 232 yeas to 187 nays, Roll No. 47.Pages H690–98

Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measure. Consideration began Monday, January 29th. Financial Institution Living Will Improvement Act:H.R. 4292, amended, to reform the living will process under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 414 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 50.Page H725

Investigative Subcommittees of the Committee on Ethics--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Members of the House to be available to serve on investigative subcommittees of the Committee on Ethics for the 115th Congress in light of the elections of Representatives Mimi Walters (CA) and Ratcliffe to the Committee on Ethics: Representatives Herrera Beutler and Thomas J. Rooney (FL).Page H725

Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 2nd and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourns to meet at 12 noon on Monday, February 5th for Morning Hour debate.Page H725

Recess: The House recessed at 3:24 p.m. and reconvened at 8:33 p.m.Page H726

State of the Union Address: President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 101. Hed was escorted into the House Chamber by a committee comprised of Representatives McCarthy, Scalise, McMorris Rodgers, Stivers, Messer, Collins (GA), Smith (MO), Pelosi, Hoyer, Clyburn, Crowley, Sanchez, Bustos, and Yarmuth, and Senators McConnell, Cornyn, Hatch, Thune, Barrasso, Blunt, Gardner, Schumer, Murray, Stabenow, Klobuchar, Manchin, and Baldwin. The President's message was referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 115–86).Pages H726–31

Senate Message: Message received from the Senate by the Clerk and subsequently presented to the House today appears on page H731.

Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H697–698, H698, H724 and H725. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 10:39 p.m.

Committee Meetings

READYING THE U.S. MILITARY FOR FUTURE WARFARE

Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Readying the U.S. Military for Future Warfare''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

CBO OVERSIGHT: ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE

Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``CBO Oversight: Organizational and Operational Structure''. Testimony was heard from Keith Hall, Director, Congressional Budget Office.

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Protecting Privacy, Promoting Policy: Evidence-Based Policymaking and the Future of Education''. Testimony was heard from Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Education for Mississippi; and public witnesses.

EXAMINING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPOUNDING QUALITY ACT

Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``Examining Implementation of the Compounding Quality Act''. Testimony was heard from Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration; and public witnesses.

Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Closing the Digital Divide: Broadband Infrastructure Solutions''. Testimony was heard from Elin Swanson Katz, Connecticut Consumer Counsel, Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel; and public witnesses.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE

Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy held a markup on H.R. 3477, the ``Ceiling Fan Energy Conservation Harmonization Act''. H.R. 3477 was forwarded to the full Committee, without amendment.

EXAMINING OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN THE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY (``FINTECH'') MARKETPLACE

Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``Examining Opportunities and Challenges in the Financial Technology (``Fintech'') Marketplace''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

FOLLOWING THE MONEY: HOW HUMAN TRAFFICKERS EXPLOIT U.S. FINANCIAL MARKETS

Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Following the Money: How Human Traffickers Exploit U.S. Financial Markets''. Testimony was heard from Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York County District Attorney's Office; and public witnesses.

Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 3808, the ``Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2017''. H.R. 3808 was ordered reported, as amended.

LEGISLATIVE MEASURE

Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on H.R. 4532, the ``Shash Jáa National Monument and Indian Creek National Monument Act''. Testimony was heard from Jason Chaffetz, former Member of Congress; Rebecca Benally, Vice Chair, San Juan County Commissioners, Utah; Sean D. Reyes, Attorney General, Utah; John Tahsuda III, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior; Casey Hammond, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY: MANAGEMENT AND PRIORITIES

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Department of Energy: Management and Priorities''. Testimony was heard from Paul Dabbar, Under Secretary for Science, Department of Energy; and Mark Menezes, Under Secretary of Energy, Department of Energy.

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing entitled ``Member Day Hearing on Legislation to Improve Tax Administration''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Smith of Missouri, Roskam, Renacci, Rice of South Carolina, Chabot, Gohmert, and Posey.

Joint Meetings

H.R. 984, to extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe. Signed on January 29, 2018. (Public Law 115–121)

H.R. 4641, to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to John L. Canley for acts of valor during the Vietnam War while a member of the Marine Corps. Signed on January 29, 2018. (Public Law 115–122)